Here are some more tips I thought of last night:
1. Patience! When you see an elk, don't raise the gun and fire right away ("elk fever"). Wait for that broad-side shot at a reasonable range. 200 yards or less is best, and 100 yards or less is better. Don't try to make a head shot or other such foolishness. Never shoot an animal in the ass. Try and wait and take a shot at a standing (non-moving) animal. If it is walking, you can also try the shot. Shooting at a running animal will probably result in a miss or, (even worse) a wounded animal.
2. The more orange you wear, the better. There are a lot of idiots out there that will shoot at darn near anything (noise, movement behind trees, etc.). Don't rely on being on private land to ensure your safety from poachers. They can (and probably will) be sneaking around that private land to poach.
3. Beware of your own movement. The two that I have to watch for are hand movement and shifting around while standing. Snot running down your nose (or an itch, etc.)? Let it run/itch! If you are going to still hunt (which is best for a beginner), it is probably best to sit so your legs don't get tired and you don't have to shift from one leg to another like you would if you were standing.
4. If you shoot an animal which runs away, STOP. Don't start tracking it right away. Mark the spot in the terrain where it ran off, and wait at least 20 minutes (which will seem like an eternity). Let it run a little and (hopefully) fall down, stiffen up, and die. If you start after it right away, it will realize you're after it, and it may run for miles. And you'll have the exhausting experience of trying to track an animal for miles.
5. If you shoot an animal which drops, STOP. Reload, reaquire it in the scope, and be ready to shoot again. Sometimes they will drop, and then get up to walk/run away. Wait at least 10 minutes, and then walk up to it.
6. If you wound it, you are obligated to try and find it. Once again, choose your shot carefully. Too far away? Then don't shoot! There is nothing worse than wounding an animal and not being able to find it (I've learned this the hard way). And you never know, if you don't take that poor shot, it might wander back to present a better shot (or others may be around that you just have not seen yet). The hardest part of hunting (for me, anyway) is not making a reasonable shot -- its passing up on a bad shot.
7. You're a beginner, so you are going to have to have one of the more experienced hunters gut and quarter the animal for you. Watch carefully so you can do it yourself (under supervision) the next time.
8. If you get an animal, be happy about it and tell the other hunters with you about the shot. But don't over-do it, because there are sure to be some in your group who don't get an animal, and there is nothing worse than someone who
constantly talks about how well he did when you didn't even see an animal.
9. The other hunters who are taking you are doing you a favor. Be nice and make sure and buy them lunch, pitch in for gas, etc. They will notice this (or the lack of it!).
10. Avoid confrontations with poachers and/or other hunters. I don't care how rude they are, or how right you are. It ain't worth having an argument with someone who is armed. And if they are a local, you will really have problems. A Sheriff will almost always side with a local, especially when the Sheriff notices that you have a rifle
and that revolver (which I've already commented about
).
Hope these tips help, and have a great time!!!